Remembrance Day: Honouring military history year-round is aim of new park

Cailynn Klingbeil, Edmonton Journal11.09.2013

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) members from left, Cpt. Dave Peabody, Major Slade Lerch and, Warrant Officers Chris Durette and Shaun Peterson standing in Patricia Park in Griesbach where the Remembrance Day parade will be held for the first time in Edmonton, Nov. 11, 2013. This will be a memorial to the PPCLI and is one of the projects for the PPCLI ‘s 100th anniversary in 2014.Ed Kaiser
/ Edmonton Journal

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) members from left, Cpt. Dave Peabody, Warrant Officer (WO) Chris Durette, Major Slade Lerch and WO Shaun Peterson standing in Patricia Park in Griesbach where the Remembrance Day parade will be held for the first time in Edmonton, Nov. 11, 2013. This will be a memorial to the PPCLI and is one of the projects for the infantry’s 100th anniversary in 2014.Ed Kaiser
/ Edmonton Journal

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EDMONTON - A new park in north Edmonton will open next week with a Remembrance Day service, as soldiers from the 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry march in a parade.

But Capt. Dave Peabody hopes Patricia Park in Griesbach Village will bring attention to Edmonton’s military history year-round, not just on Remembrance Day.

“We wanted to have something for the regiment in the public eye, away from the base,” Peabody said of the new park.

“The base, for a lot of Edmontonians, is unknown. People don’t go out there very often, and it’s not a familiar place. We want people to know that soldiers of PPCLI are very much part of the community, and we want to share with Canadians our rich history.”

PPCLI celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2014.

Peabody, deputy director of the 100th Anniversary Project for PPCLI, worked with current and retired members of the regiment, as well as the City of Edmonton and Canada Lands Company, to designate a public space in honour of the group.

Griesbach, the site of a former Canadian Forces base north of 137th Avenue and west of 97th Street, is a fitting spot. Developer Canada Lands Company paid tribute to the property’s military history with streets and parks named after local military heroes and battles military units participated in.

The first phase of Patricia Park, which overlooks Patricia Lake, is complete. It’s decorated with trees and shrubs, a small memorial and four flag poles.

The group’s next goal is to put stones at the site to represent the battle honours the regiment has earned, then to erect a memorial wall with names of fallen members.

“To have the history of the regiment and what the regiment has accomplished recognized in a public place means a great deal to us,” Peabody said.

The inaugural parade at Patricia Park, located at the corner of Gault Boulevard and Griesbach Parade, will begin at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11.

Other Remembrance Day Services taking place around Edmonton include:

SUNDAY, NOV. 10

— 2 p.m., City Room, City Hall. Royal Canadian Artillery Band performs A Musical Salute: A Tribute to Our Veterans. Admission free.

MONDAY, NOV. 11

— 9:30 a.m. Church service at Maranatha Church, 11905 47 Street, followed by parade march to Beverly Memorial Cenotaph at 40th Street and 118th Avenue. Cenotaph Service starts at 10:50 a.m.

-10 a.m. Butterdome at Van Vliet Centre, University of Alberta, 89th Avenue and 112th Street. Public asked to be seated by 10:10 a.m. Albertans pay respects to those who have died in Canada’s conflicts. Parking is free at Butterdome.

— 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum at the Prince of Wales Armouries, 10440 108th Ave., is open to public. No ceremony, but traditional silence at 11 a.m.

— 10 a.m. — 12 p.m. Ice Palace at West Edmonton Mall. Jasper Place Branch #255 of the Royal Canadian Legion host its annual Remembrance Day Service.

— 10:15 a.m., City Room, City Hall. Remembrance Day service. Mayor Don Iveson and the commanding officer of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Limited seating; people are asked to be in seats by 10:10 a.m. Afterwards, there will be an outdoor procession to the City Hall cenotaph, where wreaths will be laid. Spectators are asked to be in place by 10:50 a.m.

— 10:30 a.m. Remembrance Day service at The Alberta Aviation Museum hosted by the Ex-Air (RCAF) Alliance. Doors open at 10 a.m., spectators are asked to be seated by 10:25 a.m. Normal museum admission waived, donations accepted.

— 10:30 a.m. Remembrance Day ceremony in St. Albert. At 10:40 a.m., veterans, other Legion members, active duty personnel, RCMP, Air Cadets, Army Cadets and other groups will march from the Legion hall on Tache Street to the cenotaph on St. Anne Street. Formal ceremony starts shortly before 11 a.m.

— 10:30 a.m. Remembrance Day parade at Patricia Park in Griesbach. The park is at the corner of Gault Boulevard and Griesbach Parade.

— 10:30 a.m. Remembrance Day service in Sherwood Park, at Millennium Place on Field 1.

— 6 p.m., Interdenominational prayer service at McDougall United Church, 10025 101st St. Personal stories of peacemaking, opportunities to reflect and pray for peace.

— 7 p.m., City Hall, fifth annual Remembrance Day Prayer Walk for Peace. People will carry candles as they walk from City Hall to the Gandhi statue at the Stanley A. Milner Library. From there, participants will walk to Canada Place and then to the War Memorial on Jasper Avenue. Prayers will be led by people from different faith communities — Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite and Quaker.

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Remembrance Day: Honouring military history year-round is aim of new park

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